Do You Suffer from Migraines? Find Out the Top 4 Causes and How to Avoid Them

If you’re one of the millions of people worldwide who suffer from migraines, you know just how much they can negatively impact your life. Whether it’s taking over your day-to-day activities, affecting your work performance, or simply getting in the way of enjoying time with friends and family, migraines can really make life difficult. So if you’re ready to start fighting back against these pesky headaches, you first need to understand what causes them and where to focus your migraine treatment efforts.

Here are four top causes of migraines that you should be aware of.

What are migraines?

Migraines are known to be severe, throbbing headaches. Many who suffer from them experience symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and extreme sensitivity to light or sound. The condition can also cause neck pain and weakness on one side of your body. One out of five women and one out of every 20 men suffer from migraine headaches at some point in their lives. In fact, it is estimated that 18 percent (almost 1 in 5) American adults – approximately 40 million people – experience migraines every three months according to a 2018 study.

Top 4 causes of migraines

1. Stress
Stress can cause headaches, and headaches can cause stress. It’s a vicious cycle that most of us are unfortunately familiar with. Luckily, there are many ways to manage our stress levels so that it doesn’t impact us as much on a daily basis. We’re not saying you should live in a bubble—emotions and feelings are an important part of life!—but try your best to minimize your stressful situations when possible.

You can also participate in de-stress techniques like meditation and regular exercise.

2) Not getting enough sleep
You may think that you don’t need as much sleep as your grandparents, but in reality, every age group needs about 7 to 8 hours a night. Adequate sleep is essential for good health and can even help prevent heart disease and stroke. Unfortunately, nearly one-third of adults do not get enough restful sleep on a regular basis. Most people tend to underestimate how little shut-eye they are actually getting each night. If you find yourself suffering from headaches regularly, it’s important to make sure you are getting plenty of Zzz’s on a nightly basis—and if you aren’t, make an effort to get more rest (such as establishing healthy bedtime habits). Also remember that exercise is another great way to promote better sleep.

3) Not drinking enough water
If you’re dehydrated, your blood vessels will narrow, which can lead to a massive migraine. Water helps with digestion and detoxification—key components in preventing headache pain. And staying hydrated throughout your day is easier than you think: simply drink water at regular intervals throughout your day. If you have a hard time remembering to drink enough water, set an alarm on your phone so that every few hours (or even every hour), you’ll take a sip of water. In no time, drinking plenty of water will become second nature!

4) Diet
Diet is one of three things you must consider when figuring out what triggers your migraine headaches. If you suffer from them, it’s worth talking to a nutritionist or even consulting a dietician about what foods you should be including and avoiding in your diet to help prevent future attacks. For example, if you drink wine on a regular basis, it might be worthwhile trying a different type that has less sulfites since they’re an ingredient most migraine sufferers find intolerable. Sulfite-free wines are easier to find now than ever before, but speak with someone at your local liquor store before jumping ship just in case.

Summary

Get to know some common migraine triggers and find out what you can do to reduce your risk. Many things in our environment, even seemingly harmless objects like glitter, have been shown to trigger migraines in some people. In general, there are many triggers, and they are all different for every person.

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